News to Digest

By
Erin

Whether you're flat broke or high rolling, there are a few fun food opportunities to suit every budget this month. New around town, Clarendon diners are going for the number three.

If You Just Spent Your Last Dime
If free food is your bag, this Saturday offers a few opportunities. First, start the day off with a free smoothie at the newest location of Robeks. From 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., the Robeks at 1931 Ballenger Ave. in Carlyle, Alexandria will hand out free smoothies, food samples, travel mugs and other goods. There will also be face-painting, music and free balloons. Moe's Southwest Grill opens its new College Park location with an all-day celebration on Saturday. From 11 a.m. until 10 p.m., get a free burrito with the purchase of a large drink. Chief Zee will be in attendance and there will be face-painting, games and balloons for the little ones.

If You've Found Spare Change
On Tuesday, Oct. 23rd, San Marco hosts a dinner including wine pairings. Priced at $49.50 per person, the five-course dinner offers a grilled portobello mushroom paired with prosecco, risotto with pinot noir, lamb in rosemary sauce with a salice salentino and a creme caramel with vin santo. The meal also commences with processo and ends with grappa.

If You Just Got a Bonus
It's the season for white truffles and Dino in Cleveland Park celebrates with a special dinner on Tuesday, Oct. 30. For $125 per person, the seven dishes will all feature white truffle. Preparations include a squash sformata with truffle shavings, white truffle risotto, buffalo loin with truffle and a poached pear with truffle honey and truffle shavings. Wine pairings are available for an additional $48 ("Really Good") or $87 ("Even Better").

If You Just Came Into Your Trust Fund
Sunday, Oct. 28, CityZen presents a a winemaker dinner with the renowned Vega Scilia winery in Spain. Set in the Mandarin Oriental's top-floor presidential suite, the six-course dinner with wine pairings will begin with a cocktail reception. Wines will include several labels with vintages dating back to 1962. The cost is a cool $650 per person, including tax and gratuities, but it does offer six whole courses of top-notch pairings by chef Eric Ziebold.

New Around TownRestaurant Three opened earlier this week in Clarendon with a menu of Southern fare. Fried catfish is garnished with hoppin' john, duck comes with sweet potato hash and everything's sauced up with a good amount of Southern flavor. The bar area is nice, though the whole space is built to shine in good weather.